About Me

Sunday, February 28, 2010

The land deeds that I copied in Lamar County, Alabama turned up another surprise. You may remember the post about William and Caroline Sloan selling their land in Alabama and moving to Itawamba County, Mississippi. Well, I finally got around to transcribing some of the other Sloan deeds and was intrigued by an 1880 deed from Samuel, John, James and Joseph Sloan to their sisters Mary and Elizabeth. In addition to the brothers Sloan deeding "our interest" in real estate to Mary and Elizabeth, there was another grantor listed in the deed: Lucinda Merchant.

Who was Lucinda Merchant? I don't know for sure, but I believe that she was a sister to the above-named siblings, and another daughter of Samuel Sloan and Mary Rush Sloan. Isn't it amazing how a simple deed record can lead to the name of another family member?

I found "Lusindia Marchant" living in Lamar County in the 1900 census, at the Military Springs precinct which is the neighborhood of the Sloan family. Living with her was Mary, daughter of Joseph Sloan, who is listed as Lucinda's niece. Lucinda is 75 years old in this census. Then, in the next census of 1910, she is found as "Sindy" age 85, listed as a sister in the household of Willis Sloan, youngest child of Samuel and Mary Sloan.

Further research in earlier censuses revealed that Lucinda was married to Daniel Merchant, who was much older than she, and they were living in Itawamba County - of all places! - with the closest post office being Van Buren. Neighbors were Wardlaws, Blacks, Conwills. This puts Lucinda in or around Peaceful Valley in the 1860 and 1870 censuses, and provides one explanation for why William Sloan, her brother and my ancestor, moved to that area of Itawamba County. Very interesting, indeed!

Lucinda had two children, both sons born around the 1840-1842. In the 1900 census, she indicated that both of her children were dead, and I suspect that they may have died in the Civil War.

1 comment:

What a great find! I have several family members that I wonder why they moved to a particular spot. I'm glad you found a reason for yours. Sad that she lost two children and sadder to think that she lost them both to war.